Ex-Friends || A Drarry Story

Three: Seven

Word spread about the Fat Lady's portrait like wildfire, especially after the Heads of Houses rounded up the students and set them all in the Great Hall.

"The professors and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Dumbledore had announced to the students, most of who were confused. Draco and his friends were, whispering to themselves as Dumbledore continued, telling them that all students were required to sleep in the Great Hall, sleeping bags appearing all over the ground.

"Do you think there's another troll?" Theo asked, blue eyes gleaming.

Pansy shook her head. "Dumbledore wasn't as serious then as he is now. Maybe a Dementor Kissed a student."

With a snicker, Draco murmured, "I hope it was that annoying Weasley boy. The lanky one."

When Dumbledore left, the Hall was an immediate buzz of hundreds of students whispering and asking what had happened. Luckily, Draco and his friends were standing somewhat near the crowd of Gryffindors, who were recounting the Fat Lady's destroyed painting and Peeves's confession to seeing Sirius Black.

A chill ran up Draco's spine when he heard the name. Hogwarts was supposed to be on a lockdown, Dementors were guarding all crevices of the school, how on earth could Sirius Black get in?

"Black's harmless," said Pansy with a scoff, shoulder length hair hitting Theo in the face.

"He's deranged," Blaise said, his chocolate eyes narrowing on Harry Potter. "Anyone would be after just a few months in Azkaban. Imagine what thirteen years would do to you."

"Alright!" yelled Percy Weasley, Head Boy badge shining importantly. "Everyone in their sleeping bags, lights out in ten minutes!"

Draco, Blaise, Pansy, and Theo seized four squashy purple sleeping bags and dragged them into a corner,

"Do you think Black is still in the castle?" Theo asked.

"Perhaps." Draco smoothed his hair and sleeping bag, not bothering to look around the Great Hall in search of the Golden Trio of Misfits, because Granger's mane of hair seemed to absorb all of the light in the Hall. His eyes caught Potter's, and the spectacled boy turned away quickly, his face bright red.

Slowly, all of the candles went out, and the only light afterwards came from the silvery ghosts that were drifting around, talking seriously to the prefects. The enchanted ceiling, which like the sky outside, was scattered with stars. The whispering still filled the Great Hall, but rather than being annoyed, Draco imagined it was quite like what he thought camping was like.

Of course, he had never been camping, it just simply wasn't the way of the Malfoy to behave, wanting to be among the dirt and grime. As Draco peered up into the sky, he named the constellations he could make out, silent as ever while Blaise shifted beside him. "Draco," he hissed, looking around to make sure no other students were listening. "I---I've been talking to. . .someone."

"Okay," the blonde replied, raising an eyebrow. "What are you trying to get at?"

Blaise's dark eyes were so wide Draco almost jumped in shock. "It's a Gryffindor." He looked around quickly, to make sure neither Pansy or Theo overheard, lest they be feigning sleep. "A boy."

Draco's heart stopped everything to go silent around him, staring at Blaise for what seemed like forever. There was no way, no way his best friend was this way. When had he found out? Why had he stopped fighting the feelings?

"Oh," was all he could say, feeling like quite the idiot at this moment. Blaise was still staring at him, looking as if he was about to cry. Draco turned onto his side, facing away from who was supposed to be his best friend.